Veronica plant named ‘Balskywlue’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named ‘Balskywlue’, characterized by its medium violet-blue colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Veronica hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Balskywlue’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant botanically known as Veronica hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balskywlue’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cochranville, Pa., during December 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Veronica cultivars that have attractive colored inflorescences, strong stems, and a compact, upright growth habit.

The new Veronica cultivar was the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is MOODY BLUES Pink ‘Novaverpin’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,748, characterized by its light pink-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, dense compact, mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during August 2017 in a controlled environment in Cochranville, Pa.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2017 in Cochranville, Pa. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balskywlue’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant:

-   -   1. Medium violet-blue colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a more upright growth habit and a violet-blue flower color that is different from the pink flower color of the female parent.

Of the many commercially available Veronica cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is First Glory ‘Alllord’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,294. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Alllord’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Alllord’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker green leaf color         than plants of ‘Alllord’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter violet and more blue         colored flowers than plants of ‘Alllord’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balskywlue’. The plants were approximately four months old and grown three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately two months in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant and another one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balskywlue’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Balskywlue’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2022 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately four-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Approximately six weeks after sticking, rooted plants were transplanted three plants per one-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium and grown for three weeks. Plants were then transferred to an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. and grown for approximately two months. Plants were given one pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant and another one week after transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21.1° C. to 23.9° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.6° C. to 18.3° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica hybrid ‘Balskywlue’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—MOODY BLUES Pink ‘Novaverpin’, U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 25,748.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderately vigorous, compact, upright.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4b (−25° F. to −20° F./−31.7° C. to             −28.9° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 30.0 cm. Width: Approximately 41.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 5.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Branch height to bottom of             inflorescence: Approximately 18.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with             appressed and curled hairs. Color of young stems: 146B.             Color of mature stems: 146B, becoming woody 200D with age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 14. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite, decussate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem. Shape: Narrowly             ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 8.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             3.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Moderately pubescent.             Texture of lower surface: Moderately pubescent only on             venation. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: Closest to NN137A. Color of lower surface of young             and mature foliage: Closest to 137C. Venation of upper and             lower surface: 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately             4.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balskywlue’ is a long-day facultative,             freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming             from late spring through summer.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme, self-cleaning.             Fragrance: None detected. Height: Approximately 12.0 cm to             17.0 cm. Width: Approximately 2.5 cm to 3.0 cm. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 4.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect and acute angle to             stem Length: Approximately 1.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with appressed and curled hairs. Color: 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Aspect:             Outward. Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 65.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 90D.         -   Corolla.—Height: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 4. Appearance: Dull. Shape: Elliptic.             Margin: Entire, wavy. Apex: Broadly acute to rounded. Base:             Fused into tube. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first             and fully open: 90B. Color of lower surface when first and             fully open 90C.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tube             opening: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface:             Densely pubescent. Color of pubescence: NN155D. Texture of             outer surface: Glabrous. Color of inner and outer surfaces:             90C with NN155D at base.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Depth: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 5.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4. Shape: Lanceolate, fused at             base. Apex: Acute. Length: Two larger sepals approximately             4.0 mm and two smaller sepals approximately 3.0 mm. Width of             all sepals: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner)             surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower (outer)             surface: Moderately pubescent. Color of upper and lower             surfaces: 137A with 146D at base.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Approximately             45° angle from peduncle. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with appressed and curled hairs. Color: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per             flower. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Filament color:             90C. Anther shape: Sagittate, dorsifixed. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 93A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 2D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma             shape: Rounded. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 93A. Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style color:             90C. Ovary length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Ovary color: 144B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Veronica has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named ‘Balskywlue’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 